Monday 8th November 2021
Monthly Long Walk: Western Woods, Reservoirs and Moors
Fifteen walkers left Roddlesworth Information Centre on a bright autumnal morning and headed across the road into Tockholes Woods and made our way along the muddy paths to the ruins of Hollinshead Hall and Well House. The hall was built by John Hollinshead on the site of a large farmhouse in 1776.
Hollinshead Hall ruins
From the hall we followed a track up to Belmont Road, which we crossed, and joined a footpath that climbed steeply to the summit of Great Hill where we stopped for an early coffee break and to admire the views across the Fylde coast.
Climbing Great Hill
Descending from the summit we headed for more ruins this time those of Drinkwater Farm and the site of ‘Joe’s Cup’ a memorial to a local fell runner.
Joe’s cup
We now joined a wide track that passes Heapley Moor on the right and heads in the direction of Abbey Village where we re-crossed Belmont Road and turned right at the Hare & Hounds Pub and followed a tarmac road down to a footpath on our left which crosses the River Roddlesworth and heads up to Read Lees Farm.
Crossing River Roddlesworth
Following the footpath through the fields we encountered two very large, but friendly, shire horses that were determined to stop us going over the stile. Once over the stile we headed for St Stephen’s Church, in the village of Tockholes, where we spent some time admiring the outdoor pulpit, listed sundial and Toch stone, which dates back to AD 684, before enjoying our lunch.
St Stephen’s Church
After lunch we retraced our steps for a short distance and followed a footpath up to Rose Cottage where we turned right down to Higher Hill farm with it’s Garderobe, an outside toilet on the first floor of the building. Continuing through the fields we eventually joined Tockholes Road turning right for a short distance before taking a track on our left leading to the start location.